CM Chest Pain History Flashcards
What does a diagnostic approach to chest discomfort consider?
Uses a complex understanding of common and life-threatening diagnoses to sort through possibilities effectively.
Common life threatening diagnoses from chest pain?
Myocardial Infarction, Pulmonary Embolism, Aortic Dissection.
What is a differential diagnosis?
A list of diagnostic possibilities that arise after taking a history.
What should a differential diagnosis include?
Leading diagnostic possibilities, plausible alternatives, life-threatening possibilities.
What are the cardinal chief complaints for heart disease?
Chest discomfort Shortness of Breath Lower Extremity Edema Palpitations Syncope Cough
Why is the patient centered aspect of a history important?
Pure gold, unbiased info
Leads you might miss
Establish rapport
Being present
What are the differences in using OLDCARTS and Pivotal Quesstions?
OLDCARTS helps you gather information to begin to make a diagnosis
Pivotal questions help you rule in or rule out other possible diagnoses
What is a syndrome?
A syndrome is a set of symptoms, that may be common to several diseases
What structures may be responsible for chest discomfort?
Heart, Aorta, Lung, Pericardium/Pleura, Stomach, Brain, Skin
What are the causes of Coronary Atherosclerosis?
Cause: Narrowing of coronary artery leading to mismatch of oxygen supply and oxygen demand
Myocardial Ischemia leads to pain
Compare and contrast Stable and Unstable plaques?
Atherosclerosis is divided into two groups: Stable and Unstable plaques
Stable plaques result in fixed obstruction of a vessel and cause stable angina, which is constant at rest and worsens only with exertion
Unstable plaques result in obstruction of multiple vessels, and cause unstable angina/acute coronary syndrome
Compare and contrast how Angina can present?
Angina may be stable or unstable
Stable plaque = Stable angina = localized + painless at rest + worsens with exertion
Unstable plaque = unstable angina = diffuse pain + painful at rest + worsens with exertion
How do pain and exertion support or oppose Angina?
Treating Angina as pain that is truly associated with the heart, and not another compartment:
Increased discomfort due to exertion + relief with rest = Angina due to increased Oxygen demand worsening pain
How does the type of pain support or oppose Angina?
Dull chest pain = Angina since visceral organs like the heart are innervated by the PNS and give off dull pain signals
Sharp chest pain = Not Angina because somatic organs other than the heart are innervated by the SNS and give off sharp pain signals
How does radiation to other areas support or oppose Angina?
Collateral arm and/or jaw pain on either side suggests Angina due to shared innervation and referred pain